Speedlight

Speedlight is the brand name used by Nikon Corporation for their photographic flash units, used since the company's introduction of strobe flashes in the 1960s. Nikon's standalone Speedlights (those not built into the company's cameras) have the SB- prefix as part of their model designation. Current Speedlights and other Nikon accessories make up part of Nikon's Creative Lighting System, which includes the Advanced Wireless Lighting, that enables various Nikon cameras to control multiple Nikon flash units by sending encoded pre-flash signals to slave units.

Nikon competitors Canon and Ricoh use the similar name Speedlite for their flashes. Both names indicate that strobe flashes produce much shorter and more intense bursts of light than earlier photographic lighting systems, such as flashbulbs, or continuous lamps used in some studio situations.

Models

Current models (guide numbers - ISO 100, 35FF):

SB-400 Low-end lightweight unit (GN 69 ft, 21m @ 27mm)
SB-600 Mid-range model - weighs approximately 300g without 4 AA batteries (GN 98 ft, 30m @ 35mm)
SB-700 Professional model - weighs approximately 360g without 4 AA batteries (GN 92 ft, 29m @ 35mm)
SB-800 Professional model - weighs approximately 350g without 4 or 5 AA batteries (optional fifth battery for quicker recycling) (GN 125 ft, 38m @ 35mm) (discontinued)
SB-900 Professional model - released 30 June 2008, weighs approximately 415g. (GN 111ft, 34m @ 35mm)
Nikon SB-910 Professional model - announced 30 November 2011, weighs approximately 420g. (GN 111.5ft, 34m @ 35mm)
R1C1 Wireless Close-Up System
SB-R200 Wireless unit (GN 33 ft, 10m @ 24mm)
SU-800 Wireless Commander - no flash, controls other speedlight units

External links

Overview and detailed description of all Flashes from SB20 - SB800

Comparison: Nikon Speedlight SB-700 vs. Nikon Speedlight SB-600 review

Nikon Speedlight SB-700 vs. SB-900: overheating (thermal cut-out) test